The former Manchester United maestro believes England are not getting the best out of Rooney by playing him out wide

Paul Scholes has insisted Wayne Rooney being played out of position is to blame for his lack of form.

Former England midfielder Scholes says his ex-Manchester United teammate should be playing through the middle as Roy Hodgson's main man rather than being stuck out wide.

Scholes, in an interview for bookies Paddy Power, said: "‎The disappointing thing was not the way Wayne Rooney played but where he was played. I’ve previously said the best position for Wayne is centre forward.

"If you think about the contenders at the World Cup and goalscorers – Holland play RVP in his best position, Brazil play Neymar where he wants to play, Argentina with Messi, Portugal with Ronaldo.

"I don’t blame Wayne one little bit but he was played in three different positions. He’s without a doubt England’s best goalscorer (his record in qualifying showed that: seven goals).

"But he was played on the left, played on the right, then in the centre. Where’s the confidence in Wayne to say: ‘You’re our main player. You’re our centre forward.’ If he plays there, he scores goals.”